ISLAMABAD: In a fact-finding report over the occurrence of blasphemy cases in Sargodha district, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has pointed out the misuse of mosque loudspeakers and pulpit to press for FIRs against the Christian community and instigate violence against them.

The HRCP fact-finding mission report titled, ‘Mob violence and the social ostracisation of the Christian community in Sargodha’ released here on Friday, demanded the authorities hold to account those who participate in mob violence and those who deviated from due process while lodging FIRs.

The commission formed a fact-finding mission in September to determine the severity of the prevailing circumstances and gauge the extent of the Christian community’s insecurity and fear.

The report said that a series of blasphemy-related FIRs filed against members of the Christian community in Sargodha since July reportedly escalated to threats of impending mob violence against the community.

Fact-finding mission says TLP protest, incendiary sermons escalated likelihood of violence against minority community

After initial inquiry, the police arrested two Christian boys for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran.

With concerns that a situation like the Jaranwala incident might unfold in Sargodha, the HRCP on September 23, 2023, decided to conduct a fact-finding mission to determine the severity of the prevailing circumstances.

The report highlighted meetings of the HRCP mission with the commissioner and deputy commissioner of Sargodha, police officials posted in Sargodha, Muslim residents and the local Christian community.

It further said the local police claimed the protest by the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) played a significant role in escalating the likelihood of violence and the local imam attempted to agitate the masses by delivering incendiary sermons on two consecutive Fridays.

The HRCP said that blasphemy laws must be amended to prevent misuse of these laws as well as penalise those who make false accusations.

“Fortunately, police officials said they intervened and there were no further attempts to incite mob,” the report stated.

The report further said that those participating in mob violence must also face repercussions for attempting to take the law into their own hands and instilling fear among the vulnerable.

The police officials explained that in cases of a religious nature, their initial approach is to seek an amicable resolution through mediation and lodging FIRs as the last option.

Police officials told the HRCP mission that lodging FIRs of a religious nature is not limited to Christians only and that in Muharram, eight to 10 FIRs were lodged on average against Shia Muslims across Sargodha for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Sunni Muslims.

The HRCP mission held a joint meeting with the commissioner and deputy commissioner of Sargodha, who pointed out that the region was volatile owing to its proximity to Chenab Nagar and a significant presence of one religious group there.

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The report points out that prior to the recent wave of violence against Christians, minarets of an Ahmadiyya place of worship in Bhera, district Sargodha, were also desecrated by TLP.

The mission comprised HRCP council member Sadia Bokhari, former HRCP council member Asif Khan, minorities’ rights activist Tariq Mehmood Ghouri, and HRCP staff members Laraib Saeed (as rapporteur) and Adeel Ahmad.

The main objective of the mission was to determine the socio-political factors that gave rise to this increase in hostility towards the Christian community.

The report says there is a need to devise a national-level strategy to identify and penalise extremist elements involved in inciting mob violence and hatred against religious minorities.

The report demanded the implementation of a 2014 judgement by former CJP Jilani to uphold minorities’ rights and bring about lasting change. Besides, it said, there was a need for adequate training of law-enforcement authorities to sensitise them on inter-faith harmony, as well as on the blasphemy laws, particularly those at the district level, to enable them to discern and filter out complaints that do not fall within the purview of these laws.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2023